Slip-free tie knot



Aug. 8, 1967 J. J. CALHOUN, SR

SLIP-FREE TIE KNOT Filed July 28, 1965 INVENTOR. 't/ffiw ddz z/e w/we United States Patent O 3,334,355 SLIP-FREE TIE KNOT Jerry J. Calhoun, Sr., 393 Lewis Blvd. SE., St. Petersburg, Fla. 33705 Filed July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,392 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-150) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A new and improved slip-free tie knot that provides a holding unit designed to correspond with a tie having a knot and having means to attach the knot in position for Simulating a tied knot and against accidental displacement through the employment of a plunger having a ball and spring arrangement disposed in the holder.

The present invention relates to an improved and new slip-free tie knot, and more particularly relates to a construction for a slip-free tie knot that provides a holding unit designed to correspond with a tie having a knot, but using a holder with clips, eyes, or other attachments to attach the knot in position for simulating a tied knot.

A preferred embodiment of the invention seeks to utilize conventional components, but arranged in a new and uniquely unobvious manner so that the knot is not capable of slipping, and is held in place by insertion of a small plunger of foam rubber having a ball and spring arrangement disposed to be inserted into the holder. In this way, the simulated knot is readily held in place, and it will be seen that the advantages and objects of the invention are achieved.

An object therefore of the present invention is to provide a construction for simulating a knot for a necktie, and in which the holder comprising the simulated tie is made of the same material as the necktie with a structural base therefor made of plastic, cardboard, or other useful material that is made in mass production.

A further feature and advantage of the invention is to provide a construction for a tied knot that is slip-free, and can be mass-produced, and is adaptable for use by uniformed personnel such as airline pilots, bus drivers, policeman, and personnel of the armed forces.

More particularly, the invention is seen to comprise a holder of a truncated, conic configuration, and being secured into its conic form by means of a clip, an eye, or other fastening means, and a plunger adapted to fit into the small opening of the holder, the plunger having a peripheral truncated, conic configuration as well as an inner opening of a truncated, conic form reversely tapered to the peripheral configuration thereof; and in which a ball, stem and spring arrangement is disposed for displacement of the plunger for retaining the holder in slipfree relation to the tie that passes therethrough.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a projection view of the holder in flat or laid out view, showing the fastener to be used in maintaining the holder in its useful position;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the plunger and the ball-stem arrangement;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the holder for use with a necktie in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a side view thereof showing the components thereof in cross-section; and

FIGURE 6 is a rear and partially cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the plunger with the ballstem arrangement may be inserted into the holder.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a slipfree tie knot 10 comprising a sheet projection rolled into a holder 12, as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 compared with the showing in FIGURE 1, the holder having the form of a hollow truncated conic configuration and having a fastener 14, 14 thereon. The fastener is shown in FIGURES 2, 4, 5 and 6 to have a chain 16 terminating at the fastener 14. The other end of the chain terminates at a base 18 which includes a stem 20 which extends as generally shown through a hollow portion of a plunger 22.

It is seen that the plunger 22 has a peripheral surface resembling a truncated conic configuration and that the hollow and inner surface contour of the plunger 22 also is of generally truncated conic configuration, and is reversely oriented to that of the peripheral conic surface. The inner conic surface 24 and the outer conic surface 26 are most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The stem 20 extends for most of the length of the plunger 22 along its axial direction, and mounted on the stem 20 is a spring 30 which is sufficiently large in diameter so that it is disposed to not enter the hollow opening formed by the inner contour 24, and is also capable of resting against the base 18. Thus the spring is adapted to be compressed between the proximate end of the plunger 22 and the base 18, as shown in FIGURE 6, and in this way the stem 20 extends through the hollow of plunger 22 so that a ball 32 mounted on the end of the stem 20 extends beyond, at least substantially, the end of the plunger 22. In this condition, as shown in FIG- URE 6, the plunger 22 is then inserted into the small opening of the holder 12; thus the small end of the plunger 22 is inserted within the small end of the holder 12. Thus it is apparent the conic configurations of the holder and of the peripheral portion of the plunger 22 are similarly reversely oriented to each other.

After a necktie being disposed about ones neck and having its ends 36, 38 extending through the holder 12, and after the holder 12 is in its proper position, then the plunger 22 with the spring-30 being depressed, as shown in FIGURE 6, is inserted within the small opening of the holder 12, then the spring is released so that the spring is distended as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The ball upon expansion of the spring 30 then is drawn by the stem 20 into the plunger 22 and the plunger 22 forms a secure and slip-free connection with the holder 12. The plunger is made of foam rubber, sponge rubber, or any soft, pliable plastic, such materials being well known in the art. The ball 32 is, or may be, similarly constructed of plastic, and the stem 20 may also similarly be constructed of plastic or of Wire material. The spring, of course, is of conventional character being made of resilient metal.

Thus it is seen that the tie 36, 38 is held in place by the spring and ball device 30, 32 in cooperation with the plunger 22 when inserted properly within the holder 12, as above described.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A slip-free tie knot comprising a holder of a hollow truncated, conic configuration, a fastener on the outer surface of said holder, an end of a chain secured to said fastener, a hollow plunger having conic surfaces extending inwardly and peripherally thereof and reversely oriented to each other, a stem extending within the hollow of the plunger, a ball at the free end thereof and a spring and base disposed at the other end of said stern and adapted to be compressed upon the base being displaced toward the plunger, said chain having its other end connected to the base, said plunger disposed to remain inserted Within the holder When inserted therein While the spring is compressed and being disposed to remain therein when the spring is released.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the plunger is made of foam plastic material.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,801 10/1904 Groll 2l50 2,421,471 6/1947 Taborski 2-l50 FOREIGN PATENTS 446,683 2/ 1948 Canada.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLIP-FREE TIE KNOT COMPRISING A HOLDER OF A HOLLOW TRUNCATED, CONIC CONFIGURATION, A FASTENER ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID HOLDER, AN END OF A CHAIN SECURED TO SAID FASTENER, A HOLLOW PLUNGER HAVING CONIC SURFACES EXTENDING INWARDLY AND PERIPHERALLY THEREOF AND REVERSELY ORIENTED TO EACH OTHER, A STEM EXTENDING WITHIN THE HOLLOW OF THE PLUNGER, A BALL AT THE FREE END THEREOF AND A SPRING AND BASED DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID STEM AND ADAPTED TO BE COMPRESSED UPON THE BASE BEING DISPLACED TOWARD THE PLUNGER, SAID CHAIN HAVING ITS OTHER END CONNECTED TO THE BASE, SAID PLUNGER DISPOSED TO REMAIN INSERTED WITHIN THE HOLDER, WHEN INSERTED THEREIN WHILE THE SPRING IS COMPRESSED AND BEING DISPOSED TO REMAIN THEREIN WHEN THE SPRING IS RELEASED. 